Beatrice Venezi is challenging the Teatro La Fenice’s decision to fire her as Music Director.

The conductor’s lawyer sent on a letter on June 9 following the presentation of the company’s 2026-27 season that said, she “intends to continue to make her energies and professional artistic services available to the Foundation and to carry out all professional, organizational, and production activities preliminary and essential to the employment relationship established between the parties.” She added that the decision to terminate her contract was “null, unlawful, ineffective, and discriminatory.”

The letter added that her lawyers reserves the right to adopt “measures deemed most appropriate and prudent to protect the rights and interests of their client.”

In a response to the letter General Director Nicola Colabianchi responded stating that the Teatro La Fenice’s Foundation had not “signed any contract” with the conductor and added, “We have no problem; our lawyers will respond. We are completely calm.”

Venezi was fired from the Teatro La Fenice following an interview with La Nacion in which she suggested that La Fenice names artists due to nepotism and said, “I have no patrons (…). I do not come from a family of musicians. And this is an orchestra in which positions are passed down practically from father to son. I do not belong to a family of musicians; I am a woman—36 years old—the first female conductor of La Fenice, and I want to bring about renewal.”

In response to the comments, Superintendent of the Teatro La Fenice, Nicola Colabianchi, said, “The decision was reached in part as a result of repeated and grave public statements made by the Maestro—statements deemed offensive and detrimental to the artistic and professional standing of the Teatro La Fenice Foundation and its Orchestra. These assertions, with whose substance and expressed judgments the Foundation does not concur, are incompatible with the Foundation’s principles and with the protection and respect due to the members of the Orchestra.”

When Venezi was named Music Director, controversy followed the company’s headlines due to protests against the conductor, her closeness to Giorgia Meloni’s government, and her lack of experience with the theater. Several board members also resigned when  the conductor was officially confirmed in March.

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